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Metro Regional Connector opens in Los Angeles, bringing more direct access to downtown

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

The wait is finally over.Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s long-anticipated Regional Connector is opening Friday afternoon.The A and E rail lines are expected provide riders with more direct access to downtown L.A. and transfer-free journeys from Azusa to Long Beach as well as East Los Angeles to Santa Monica, Metro officials detailed.The project includes three new underground stations in downtown L.A.: Little Tokyo/Arts District station, Historic Broadway and Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill.Metro officials also anticipate the system will improve transit connections by bringing together the Metro L (formerly Gold), E (Expo) B (Red) and D (Purple) lines at the 7th Street/Metro Center transfer station.Metro will be offering free rides from 3 a.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Monday on all buses, trains, Metro Bike and Metro Micro to celebrate the opening of the connector. “Please come out and ride as much as you like and enjoy the many destinations you can reach via M...

L.A.-born NBA player Tony Snell reveals autism diagnosis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

A ten-year NBA veteran is coming forward to share his recent autism diagnosis at the age of 31. Tony Snell, who was born in Watts and played three seasons at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, shared his story with Today show reporter Craig Melvin.Snell revealed to Melvin that autism has affected their family in more than one way.He and he wife, Ashley, noticed that their son, Carter, was missing some important developmental milestones. At 18 months, he wasn't talking and was showing signs of stimming — a term used to describe "self-stimulatory behaviors" that include repetitive movements and sounds, according to the National Autism Society.Tony and Ashley say Carter is always on the move and often has "six or seven toys in his hands." One of which is always a basketball.Their doctor recommended Carter be tested for autism, which revealed a positive diagnosis. Seeing similarities between himself and his child, Tony opted to get tested as well."I was always independent grow...

June gloom clouds to burn off across SoCal in time for Father’s Day 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

The clouds that have been lingering over Southern California since the start of June are set to make way for clear skies this weekend, just in time for Father’s Day. Marine layer clouds are expected to burn off by midday on Friday and are not expected to return until Sunday morning, where they are also expected to burn off quickly. “Saturday and Sunday are going to be beautiful days,” said KTLA meteorologist Mark Kriski. “Saturday [will be] the warmest day.” Most of Southern California will see more sunshine and an increase in temperatures as the June gloom begins to recede. The weather for Father’s Day is forecast to be mostly sunny throughout the region, with temperatures ranging from 70 degrees near the coasts and mountains to 84 degrees in the high desert. Visit the KTLA 5 Weather page for the most up to date conditions for your area.

In Pleasanton, tainted water tapped to meet peak demand

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

Across the Bay Area, reservoirs are brimming, snowmelt is plentiful, and drought restrictions have ended. Yet in Pleasanton, some residents are worried that, even with all that water, there won’t be a safe drop to drink.The end of California’s drought restrictions left the East Bay city with an unenviable choice — continue to mandate water conservation to meet peak summer demand after one of the wettest winters of record or tap contaminated wells.During a City Council meeting last month, Pleasanton chose the second option in a bid to satisfy residents eager to use more water, fill swimming pools and soak lawns after years of restrictions. Although the city gets most of its water from Del Valle Reservoir, city leaders say they’ll also need to tap city wells contaminated with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” to meet the highest spikes in usage.So far, the city is sticking with its decision, emphasizing that the well water is safe, amid a growing chorus of concerned resid...

Oakland man sentenced to 25 years to life for murder of innocent bystander during shakedown

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

OAKLAND — A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years to life for fatally shooting a 40-year-old father of four during the robbery of another person, court records show.Donovan Johnson, of Oakland, was sentenced by Judge Rhonda Burgess, who also oversaw the trial where Johnson was convicted of second degree murder and use of a firearm. According to a transcript filed on May 22 of the sentencing hearing, none of the victim’s family membered issued statements, nor did Johnson say anything on his own behalf.Johnson was convicted of killing Chrystian Valdez Negrete at around 2 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2018, near a night club on the 4400 block of International Boulevard in East Oakland. A 36-year-old man was struck by gunfire but survived. Prosecutors allege that Johnson fired 10 rounds at the intended victim and that a stray bullet hit Valdez Negrete, who was standing down the block.Johnson is still in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, awaiting transfer to the state prison system, records ...

Review: ‘Othello’ pulls no punches at San Jose Stage

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

The tragedy of “William Shakespeare’s “Othello” isn’t simply the violence that explodes in the play’s denouement. True devastation festers from the onset, when the play introduces Black Othello and white Desdemona’s love.Deeper examination of the text makes it clear that marriage under any circumstances would be problematic. Nuptials between a strong Black man and a petite white woman would never be allowed in Venice — clearly the couple was aware of this, leading to their hasty, secret union.Despite a wedding that should be associated with joy, it’s just a matter of moments before Othello’s life becomes a fit of revengeful rage.San Jose Stage Company’s production of “Othello” hits many correct notes, which have nothing to do with the smoking-hot jazz tunes that turn the stage into a 1950s film-noir world. Director Kenneth Kelleher does terrific things when sets are minimal, and there is nothing fancy here; a bare stage, sprays of light that touch up the surroundings, textured...

A series of ghastly transactions: Harvard and University of Arkansas human body trafficking ring told through federal charging documents

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

At least one of the members of an alleged human body parts trafficking ring that ranged from New Hampshire to Harvard to Pennsylvania and to Arkansas has entered into a plea bargain that acknowledges the federal allegations.Meanwhile, the family of a Granite State husband and wife who donated their bodies to help science are demanding action.“My mom just passed away in March and she’s down there, and we want her back,” Paula Peltonovich said to WMUR9. “Who could do something like that? What kind of person? No respect at all for the family,” Peltonovich, the victim’s daughter, added. “They need to pay.”Jeremy Lee Pauley, 41, of Enola, Penn., who a federal “information” complaint alleges purchased all kinds of body parts from a woman who worked for a crematorium contracted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and also tanned human skin sent to him by a Massachusetts woman named Katrina MacLean, signed the plea agreement on May 8, 2023.The case is documented as multiple c...

Teen found guilty for causing father’s death by dousing him with drain cleaner

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

After deliberating for approximately three hours, an Oakland County, Michigan jury returned with a verdict Thursday in the case against an Ortonville teen accused of throwing lye at her father, leading to his death.Shortly after 2 p.m. on the fourth day of trial,  jurors announced a guilty verdict for 19-year-old Megan Imirowicz on one count of unlawful possession or use of harmful devices – imitation/irritants – causing death — a felony — and misdemeanor domestic violence for the Oct. 1, 2021 assault on her father, Konrad Imirowicz.He spent approximately five months hospitalized for chemical burns and related complications before coming home on hospice care and dying three days later. He was 64.Konrad Imirowicz (photo credit: Quora) Megan Imirowicz is scheduled to be sentenced July 25 by Oakland County Circuit Judge Victoria Valentine.According to assistant prosecutor Jason DeSantis who tried the case, on the day of the assault Megan Imirowicz fought with her father because he...

Daniel Ellsberg Wanted Americans to See the Truth About War

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

On a warm autumn afternoon, I sat with Daniel Ellsberg on the deck next to his house. The San Francisco Bay shimmered off in the distance behind him. It was 2021, and more than 50 years had passed since Ellsberg — risking prison for the rest of his life — had provided the New York Times and other newspapers with 7,000 pages of top-secret documents that quickly became known as the Pentagon Papers. From then on, he continued to speak, write, and protest as a tireless antiwar activist.I asked what the impacts would likely be if pictures of people killed by the U.S. military’s bombing campaigns were on the front pages of American newspapers.“But why were they lied to? How much would they do if they weren’t lied to?”“I am in favor, unreservedly, of making people aware what the human consequences are of what we’re doing — where we are killing people, what the real interests appear to be involved, who is benefiting from this, what are the circumstances of the killing,” Ellsberg replied. “I...

Sports on TV for June 17 – 18

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:57 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSaturday, June 17AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL5 a.m.FS2 — AFL: St. Kilda at RichmondAUTO RACING12:25 p.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal3:55 p.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal8 p.m.FS1 — NASCAR ARCA Menards Series: The Berlin ARCA 200, Berlin Raceway, BerlinBOXING12 a.m. (Sunday)SHO — Showtime International: Tim Tszyu vs. Carlos Ocampo (Super-Welterweights), Broadbeach, AustraliaCFL FOOTBALL7 p.m.CBSSN — Edmonton at BCCOLLEGE BASEBALL2 p.m.ESPN — College World Series: Stanford vs. Wake Forest, Game 3, Omaha, Neb.7 p.m.ESPN — College World Series: Tennessee vs. LSU, Game 4, Omaha, Neb.GOLF1 p.m.NBC — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles3 p.m.GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic, Third Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.HORSE RACING1 p.m.FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races2 p.m.FS1 — NYRA: America’s Da...